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The doghouse

Running with your dog - gear?

18 replies

RedwingWinter · 01/11/2011 19:38

I would like to go running with my dog now that he can walk nicely on a leash most of the time without pulling me in the ditch after interesting smells/creatures.

Those of you that run with your dog, what kind of gear do you use? I have tried jogging with him with his regular leash but obviously something hands-free would be much better. Any recommendations?

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orienteerer · 01/11/2011 19:40

Here

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morethanyoubargainfor · 01/11/2011 19:42

I use a Trixie jogging dog lead. I really like it as it has pockets for water and mobile phone. Amazon has them for £19.99. I use it with my loopy lurcher.

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toboldlygo · 01/11/2011 19:51

I'd actually ignore the advice of Cani-x UK to use an x-back harness, they are not suitable for running in this way unless you have a very long line and a very tall dog.

Lots of different types of waist belt are available - google Culpeppers, Snowpaw store, Country Hounds, Inner Wolf, Kisi, SASS. I use a plain neoprene Nordkyn belt, no padding, I find that the padded ones rise up.

Dog needs a harness with a fitted neck, I use the Manmat long distance/shoulder harnesses, Nordkyn also do a good one. Lots of bungee leads available on the above sites, again I use Manmat ones. Don't attach a bungee to a collar!

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RedwingWinter · 01/11/2011 20:42

Thanks for the advice. He is a tall dog (tall and skinny) but I wouldn't want to use a long line because I will always be having to keep an eye out for squirrels etc. I'll take a look at the brands mentioned and measure him up for a harness.

Stupid question, but do you take the collar off when attaching the harness, or can he still wear his usual collar with it? (obviously bungee goes to harness not collar).

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Merle · 02/11/2011 14:03

Does he have to be on a lead? I run with my lurcher, but he's let free unless there are livestock or roads. I use a whistle for recall, but generally he stays very close, practically tripping me up, sometimes.

I've got a runner's bum-bag, which holds treats, poo bags etc. If it's really hot I have sometimes brought a small bowl and a water bottle with me.

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Merle · 02/11/2011 14:09

Do you go at night? Headtorch for you, flashing collar for the pooch. Sorted.

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Hatwoman · 02/11/2011 14:10

I mostly do what merle does - but am v. rural. Big Dog is so used to it all that he comes to heel without me saying so if we turn a corner and are confronted with livestock. I've also taught him a go away command for when he runs too close. I take a very short slip lead for any roads (though have been known to forget) - and I don't find holding it in my hand (with or without him on the end) a problem at all. The only really annoying thing is when he poos at the beginning of a run - no-one wants to run for 5 miles carrying a bog of dog poo.

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Merle · 02/11/2011 14:30

Hatwoman - I know! I gave up running last week and just walked - my excuse being that you can't really run with those disgusting things swinging in your hand. Sometimes the next bin is miles away and I can't bring myself to put it into my bumbag - gross!

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Hatwoman · 02/11/2011 15:00

[looks furtively round for non-doggy town-dwelling mn-ers] I have to confess ... that sometimes I move it - but only if I can find a suitable spot - completely off the path and inaccessible to all but an idiot (eg in a huge crop of nettles/under a stone/over the wall into a field of cows with no footpath/in the river). Then I put the empty bag inside another bag, knot it all up and put in my bum bag. I confessed this to a friend thinking it was very very bad of me and she told me she does it too.

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RedwingWinter · 02/11/2011 15:52

Thanks Merle. I have a headtorch and flashing collar already for walking in the dark, although mostly I prefer to stick to daylight as it's a rural area.

The dog has to be on a lead. He's a husky cross and huskies are generally not recommended to go off-lead. I do practise recall with him (in a safely fenced area) but I know I can't trust him to come back if there's something interesting around. Besides, if he wasn't attached to me, I think instead of running he'd be busy hunting mice!!

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RedwingWinter · 02/11/2011 15:54

Very useful point about the timing of his toileting arrangements, Hatwoman! I do an out and back route mostly so I think I would be tempted to leave the bag to pick up on the return...

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toboldlygo · 02/11/2011 17:29

Yeah, the biggest challenge about a cani-x race for me is encouraging my Won't Poo Away From Home bitch to go before a race (boydog has no such ishoos and poos with great quantity and frequency as soon as he's out of the car ).

Yes they can wear a collar as well as a harness. :) For two dogs you'd often attach them together by the collars with a neck line (I use a staggered line instead as No Pooping Bitch won't tolerate anyone else up front with her, proper mardy lead dog she is).

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RedwingWinter · 02/11/2011 17:51

Ah, I must need a second husky so that I can run with two ...

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toboldlygo · 02/11/2011 18:09

You will get a second husky in the future. Multiple husky syndrome is well documented.

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RedwingWinter · 02/11/2011 19:54

Yes, I noticed that many of the people who say 'don't get a husky' have multiple huskies themselves. I think we will have to get another one at some point! Maybe in the new year ...

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Merle · 03/11/2011 06:56

Oh Redwing I see - definately on a lead, then . I see on the Canix site that they suggest leads which attach to your waist - would that be good? I suppose if you are out walking/running with a husky then you must have quite strong arms by now! I was out last night in a group of runners, off-road and occasionally, when my dog had to go onto the lead (when we ran along a road for a bit) I found it really hard to hold onto him, as he was pulling like mad to catch up with the other runners and another dog. I am very weedy as he's only a small dog, but I couldn't have managed for much longer.

Hatwoman - good tip about the poobags! If I've ever left it, to collect later, I have to talk loudly to the dog/any imaginary bystander, saying 'I'm coming back later, etc', so worried I am that someone might think that I'm just leaving it.

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HazleNutt · 03/11/2011 15:52

I have something liek this and I just clip it around my waist. www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_collars_dog_leads/nylon_leads/special/59524
Mine don't really pull though, so they run with their normal collars.

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RedwingWinter · 03/11/2011 21:12

Haha Merle, yes, I suppose I do have strong arms! He is pretty good at walking nicely on his leash now but there are still moments when he suddenly pulls in a random direction. Squirrels, birds and mice are usually the reason. I can keep a look-out for squirrels but only he can tell where the mice are hiding out underground ...

I'm going to get a harness that can connect to a belt around my waist. I have to measure him up for the harness though so will get DH to help at the weekend. I'm really looking forward to running with him. Especially to being dog-assisted on the uphills!